Emotions racing, Hamilton prevails

Lewis Hamilton ran a rollercoaster of emotions to give his home Formula One fans the win they wanted Sunday at the British Grand Prix.

On Saturday, the Mercedes driver had been “devastated” - his own father’s description - after an error in qualifying seen by some as a pivotal moment in a season handed the pole position to teammate Nico Rosberg.

By Sunday evening, Hamilton was celebrating the second home win of his career and a triumph that took his tally to 27 victories - the same number as retired triple champion and compatriot Jackie Stewart.

Rosberg’s first retirement of the season - compared to Hamilton’s two - cut the gap between them to four points with the momentum suddenly swinging the Briton’s way.

“Yesterday was a really difficult day,” said Hamilton, who spent the evening talking things through with his father and family. “I went away feeling terrible for the fans.

“I felt that I had let them down, not only them but the team and myself. Coming back today, trying to turn that serious emptiness and negativity into a positive today was really my priority.”

With the Wimbledon men’s final between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic under way, Hamilton likened his predicament to a tennis player two sets down and needing to focus and get back into the match.

“It’s so hard to get your mind in gear, to get yourself back and not lose points from then on. And so the pressure is high. But I really feel that now we’re back,” he said.

“Yesterday was a real kick in the balls. I really had to pick up, pull up my socks and get on it if I want to win this world championship, and I can’t have situations like yesterday.

“The last two races I’ve easily had the pace to be on pole position and I’ve not put it there. I’ve put it much further back, made it much harder for myself but now I’m going to try to rectify that for the future.”

Reuters